But as he looked upon the sleeping King, there came a whisper from a better voice, "It is cowardly to strike a sleeping foe."
And Frithiof shuddered, for he was too brave a man to commit murder.
"Sleep on, old man," he muttered gently to himself.
But Ring's sleep was over. He started up. "O Frithiof why hast thou come hither to steal an old man's bride?"
"I came not hither for so dark a purpose," answered Frithiof; "I came but to look on the face of my loved Ingebjorg once more."
"I know it," replied the King; "I have tried thee, I have proved thee, and true as tried steel hast thou passed through the furnace. Stay with us yet a little longer, the old man soon will be gathered to his fathers, then shall his kingdom and his wife be thine."
But Frithiof replied that he had already remained too long, and that on the morrow he must depart.
Yet he went not; for death had visited the palace, and old King Ring was stretched upon his bier, while the bards around sang of his wisdom.
Then arose a cry among the people, "We must choose a king!"